He's leaving home, bye bye.

Stanley's days in my garden are numbered, I think.

Today I went out to the balcony to get a breath of fresh air and gather my thoughts, and looked for him on my basil plant, as usual. Something made me look up and I was a little startled to see my mantid friend above my head. He's never left the planter as far as I know, but after his last molt he gained wings, so I was wondering when this day would come. According to what I've read, they're mature when their shedding reveals wings. He didn't have them until this shed - now they're long and mottled brown, perfect for blending into pine scrub.
He wandered around a bit, walking out and down the overhang then back and down the frame of the balcony to the parsley and basil plants he's been calling home.

I think he'll be leaving us soon. It makes me sad, because I'll miss visiting him every day... but I've really enjoyed watching him grow, and all children leave the nest eventually.


Here's a much better pic of what Stanley looks like these days. Oh, and after looking through these pics, I did indeed sex him correctly. He's a boy!